Assam Health Minister: No more lockdowns as of now

Guwahati: Rubbishing rumours about another lockdown to be announced by the Assam government in the coming days, Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that there is no such thinking within the government at this point of time. The Minister's announcement came amidst renewed fears over the new strain of the Covid-19 virus which originated in Britain.

Reports have it that the new strain of virus is more dangerous and even spreads more rapidly. With 110 people entering Assam from UK within the last one month, the news of an impending lockdown had surfaced. But as Health Minister Sarma noted, the repeated lockdowns imposed in the state so far have crippled the state's economy and caused insurmountable losses to business, education and other sectors. The State government has also recently announced the news of schools re-opening for regular classes starting January 1. 

"School-colleges will reopen from January 1. Primary schools will also reopen. We have not planned for further lockdown," Sarma informed newspersons.

Speaking on the subject of Assam's current Covid status, Sarma said that there is nothing to worry. The state has been reporting less than 100 cases daily. As such, the government came up with the mentioned decision of opening schools for regular classes without restrictions. However, it is worth mentioning that wearing of masks and social distancing will still be maintained in schools. 

 On Friday, Sarma also informed that one UK-returned woman tested positive in Assam, and her samples have been sent over to the National Institute of Virology in Pune to test for the new strain of virus. 

Meanwhile, the Health Minister also reissued the SOP with new regulations in view of the spread of the new virus. The new rules which prohibit any gathering with more than 50 people, are supposed to be followed by people from January 1 to January 10.

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